What is it and how does it work?

January 15, 2021, 5:30 p.m.

No time right now?

Note: We have used commission links in this article and marked them with “*”. If an order is placed via these links, t3n.de receives a commission.

Didn’t get an invitation? No problem! We explain to you what the new social media hype about Clubhouse is all about, how the app works and whether FOMO is appropriate now.

Clubhouse is a prime example of how to create real hype in the digital age. However, a closer look at the social media app shows that there are definitely reasons for the excitement, because the concept is promising. Simply put: Clubhouse is an audio-only app that lets you listen to conversations like a live podcast or actively participate in discussions. No comments, no likes, no camera switched on, but also no easy participation: because anyone who wants to take part needs an invitation!

Register at clubhouse? Not without an invitation (yet)

A selected group is currently meeting at Clubhouse. Because without an invitation there is no chance to take a concrete look at the new social media hype. Android users even look completely into the tube. So far, Clubhouse has only been offered in the Apple App Store. Nevertheless, the number of users has already increased considerably in the past year, so joining the clubhouse is not impossible.

The most important facts at a glance

• Audio-based social media app.
• So far only available for iOS.
• Participation is only possible by invitation.
• Already open Valued at $ 100 millionwhen only 1500 users were registered.
• Extensive rollout is still pending.

This is how you can join Clubhouse

In order to participate in Clubhouse, the first thing to do is to download the drop-in audio app from the app store necessary. But that’s not all, because an invitation from an already registered user is also required. This “invite” works via the telephone number. So when you finally register with Clubhouse, make sure you include the same number that the invitation was sent to.

How does the clubhouse work?

The exchange takes place in the clubhouse via so-called rooms. Every user can join public spaces or open their own. Closed rooms to network with friends are also possible. There are then different user roles:

• Moderators: They can lead the discussion by “getting users on stage” and turning them into speakers. Conversely, you can also remove users from the stage.
• Speaker: These users can actively participate in the discussion and make contributions.
• Listeners: Just hear what there is currently to be said on this topic? No problem: every user who joins a room can follow the current discussion live. Anyone who raises their hand at the push of a button signals to the moderators that they also want to contribute to the conversation.

It is also possible to plan discussion rounds in advance in order to reach as many users as possible. With the calendar view, you can keep an eye on when rooms are opened that are particularly interesting for you.

Another special feature of Clubhouse: Your profile shows who you have been invited by. So there are good reasons to distribute your invites wisely. Those who are particularly active can earn additional invites. You can also enter additional information about yourself in your profile and, for example, store your accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Tiktok. You can also join clubs on specific topics that have a similar function to the groups on Facebook – only on an audio basis.

Celebrities and presenters: Stars fuel the hype

What do Drake, Paris Hilton and Oprah Winfrey have in common? They are all extremely effective in the media registered with clubhouse and thus ensure that fans all over the world certainly want to be part of the club. Since the app currently has relatively few users, it is not even unlikely to meet Kevin Heart or another celebrity in one of the rooms. Often, however, the stars open their own rooms and can choose who they want to talk to and who they don’t.

But there is also another kind of celebrity on Clubhouse and it has very little to do with Hollywood: Moderators here are often people with well-founded specialist knowledge and a special gift for leading discussions or a pleasant way of speaking. The best of them convince with a mix of podcast host and community manager, like the ones New York Times describes.

Will Clubhouse be open to everyone soon?

Will anyone soon be able to register with Clubhouse without an invitation? At least the two founders Paul Davison and Rohan Seth are announcing the in an official statement at. But when the time comes is still in the stars. According to the Clubhouse, it is important to learn as much as possible about user wishes and the infrastructure in the current beta phase to expand steadilyin order to finally be well prepared for a large-scale rollout. Ultimately, however, the hype about Clubhouse is based precisely on the fact that the app is not accessible to most people. Accordingly, the announcement that the exclusive club will be opened without specifying a specific date fits perfectly into this clever strategy.

The criticism of Clubhouse

As with many ambitious projects, Clubhouse also came along not without criticism through its initial phase. Because even with this social media app there are problems that sadly you have almost got used to on Twitter and Facebook, for example: Hatespeech and annoyance in the individual rooms. Even invited guests can misbehave. The problem with Clubhouse was exacerbated by the fact that the operator himself intervened little or no moderation in the discussions and initially did so too no possibility for users gave to report any grievances directly. By setting up your own Community guidelines and a new reporting function actively counteracts this fact. Since with Clubhouse audio files are normally not saved and users are also encouraged not to record anything, it is not that easy to prove violations of rules.

Clubhouse: You can’t get more of the zeitgeist

Podcasts, digital panels, open discussions with experts from a wide variety of fields: Not least because of Corona, these forms of communication have become an important part of the zeitgeist. For freelancers and employees in digital professions, they are also important contact points for further training and networking. Clubhouse takes these modern forms of networking and takes them to the next level – a kind of inclusive podcast 2.0 you could say. The app has hit a nerve and the addiction factor is extremely high, as experience from the t3n editorial team shows.

The concept of relying exclusively on audio is much more spontaneous, inclusive and open than is the case with other social media apps. Anyone who would like to find out more about business topics, e-commerce, new sales channels or the like in a simple and uncomplicated way will also find connections here very quickly.

It gets exciting, however, when the Clubhouse really opens up to a larger group of people and more problems arise with more users. In addition, it remains to be seen when the team will begin to monetize content and open up ways for the moderators to earn money through their work in the app. Until then, it says: You should definitely have Clubhouse on your radar in 2021.

Most read